w ridiculous, for the most part, are the causes of our
wrath! For light things we are heavily moved, and for ridiculous things
sadly, even as children who fall out among themselves for toys and
trifles, or as beasts that are provoked upon the very show of a colour, as
red or such like. We would save ourselves much labour, if we could judge
before we suffer ourselves to be provoked. But now we follow the first
appearance of wrong, and being once moved from without, we continue our
commotion within, lest we should seem to be angry without a cause. But
charity hath a more solid foundation. It dwells in God, for God is love,
and so is truly great, truly high, and looks down with a steadfast
countenance upon these lower things. The upper world is continually calm
and serene. No clouds, no tempests there, no winds, nothing to disturb the
harmonious and uniform motion, but it is this lower world that is troubled
and tossed with tempests, and obscured with clouds. So a soul dwelling in
God by love, is exalted above the cloudy region. He is calm, quiet,
serene, and is not disturbed or interrupted in his motion of love to God
or men.

Charity "thinketh no evil." Charity is apt to take all things in the best
sense. If a thing may be subject to diverse acceptations, it can put the
best construction on it. It is so benign and good in its own nature that
it is not inclinable to suspect others. It desires to condemn no man, but
would gladly, as far as reason and conscience will permit, absolve every
man. It is so far from desire of revenge, that it is not provoked or
troubled with an injury. For that were nothing else but to wrong itself
because others have wronged it already, and it is so far from wronging
others, that it will not willingly so much as think evil of them. Yet if
need require, charity can execute justice, and inflict chastisement, not
out of desire of another's misery, but out of love and compassion to
mankind. _Charitas non punit quia peccatum est, sed ne peccaretur_,(411)
it looks more to prevention of future sin, than to revenge of a bypast
fault, and can do all without any discomposure of spirit, as a physician
cuts a vein without anger. _Quis enim cut medetur irascitur?_ "Who is
angry at his own patient?"

Charity "rejoiceth not in iniquity." Charity is not defiled in itself,
though it condescend to all. Though it can love and wish well to evil men,
yet it rejoiceth not in iniquity. It is like the sun's light that